Read Unveil Me (The Jaded Series Book 3) for Free Online

along.
    “Where did you head off to today, Andrew?” Mia asks casually.
    I stiffen at her question, just as I do every time she asks me this. No one knows where I go when I leave town and visit Ally. They know about Becky and Brent, but have only met them a few times. However, they know nothing about Ally. I don’t know why I haven’t told them. Maybe because I’ve shared every other aspect of my life, and I feel I need to keep this part separate. It’s certainly not that I’m ashamed of her. It’s just the opposite, in fact. I’m very proud of the small family I’m part of. I just have this need to keep Ally to myself and not share her yet. Eventually I’ll have to tell everyone, but I want to wait until after Ally is better and can handle the stampede that will enter her life. Because I know, once my friends in Jaded Hollow find out, they’ll swarm her, and not let her up for air.
    My fun mood starts to dissipate. It makes me sick to my stomach every time I think about what Ally, Becky, and Brent are going through. I hate that there’s nothing I can do. I feel completely helpless and it pisses me off.
    “It’s none of your damn business. Stop fucking asking me that.” I can’t help the harshness in my reply, and I feel like shit when I see a flash of surprise, shock, and hurt enter Mia’s face. It doesn’t last long though. Almost as soon as the look appears, it is replaced with narrowed eyes. Mia is normally the type of person who’ll bite you back if you catch an attitude with her. I never lose it with her, so I’m sure she’s probably taken aback by my words. I’ve always been good about hiding this part of my life, but it’s getting harder the last few months because of the leukemia. The news today that she’s not getting better hit me hard.
    I put my hands on the bar, close my eyes, bow my head, and take a deep breath.
    This fucking sucks.
    “Who pissed in your Cheerios today?” Mia asks. I grit my teeth at her smart-ass comment, not wanting to say anything else that’ll antagonize her. Because that’s one thing about Mia: she doesn’t give up.
    “Mia,” I hear Mac say. “Just leave him alone.”
    “What the hell, Mac?” she hisses at him. “All I did was ask a simple fucking question and he thinks it’s okay to cop an attitude? He knows me and should know better.”
    My stiff shoulders tighten even more. My grip on the countertop has my knuckles turning white. Mia has no idea how close I am to losing it. I’m on edge, and I’m clueless how to back away.
    Taking a deep breath, I loosen my grip and tilt my head back up, and immediately clash eyes with Jase. The clear blue of his stare instantly calms the emotions raging inside me. His face shows concern, and something flutters in my chest. I like he’s concerned about my abrupt change in demeanor, but I want to wipe that look from his face and replace it with something different, something carnal.
    Not able to do anything about it now, and needing to apologize to Mia, I turn to face her. Her brows are puckered, and she’s watching me with an expression that says she’s unsure of what my next move will be.
    “Sorry, Mia Pia. I’ve just got shit going on right now that I can’t talk about. Please just leave it, okay?”
    After watching me for a few seconds, she nods. “Okay, Andrew. Just remember, you’ve got friends here you can lean on.”
    “I know. Thank you,” I tell her quietly. And I do know I have friends. Wonderful friends I know would do anything for me. I know I could count on them through this rough time, but I just can’t reveal my secret yet. In time I will, but not yet.
    Seeming okay with my answer, she smiles. Her attention is pulled away when someone down at the other end of the bar whistles, and she goes to take their order. Mac gets up from his stool and says he’s heading to the bathroom, leaving Jase and me alone.
    “How was your tour of the town?” I ask him, trying to take my mind off my dark